A few people have asked for a copy of the wedding program to be posted. Since it was in print format I have included the two files here but you will have to use your imagination to see the front/back/inside in the right order as it was when printed and folded. You should be able to click on each image to make it bigger.
This is a reprint of a post written about attending our wedding by a wonderful friend. You can find the original here:
Today I awoke in a house empty except for me and my emotions. In retrospect it is a very full house. Today is my wedding day. I have only ever said that one time before in my life and I can't help but compare the days. Although they do not seem specific, it is pretty clear where my emotions are coming from.
Every morning we fill out an "All About My Night" sheet for Rebekah to take to school to help with communication - so the teachers will have some context in what she is trying to say. Part of that is to answer the question "My favorite part was..."
These are words, being shouted with concern/fear from the bathroom, that this single dad of two little girls dreaded to hear. Even though my girls are prepubescent and barely pubescent these words still freaked me out.
Yes, we are enjoying our time at Tia's father's home in Montana. Here are a few pictures and a video (working on the video) for you to enjoy too: The beautiful Miss Tia:
And me with the kiddos in the background: 
Sharing the path with the fawna: 
I awoke this morning in a third story bedroom of a rustic open beamed, wood everywhere home. As I opened my blinds I looked out to a beautiful layer of white snow covering the ground and the high desert pines that only somewhat blocked my view of an ice covered river. Outside my window was one small deer, casually foraging from bush to bush trying to find her breakfast in this wonderful area God created and we call Montana.
In Genesis God gave Adam the power to name the creatures of the earth as they were created. The act of naming something creates a huge tie to that something. There was (and is) great significance to that power, a significance we don't think about that often.
After Frances made the decision to go Home to God this summer I found myself talking to others about our plans. We knew we would take our several week vacation and then come back home, start school and get down to the new "normal" with just the three of us. With Frances being incapacitated and bed bound for so long, so many people in and out of our lives and house, sleeping in motorhomes, camping trailers, the couch, the playroom etc. we had not had a traditionally family in so long and I never expected one again for a long time. It is often said that the Adams' don't do things in a normal way!
This appeared in the Hillsboro Argus, a local bi-weekly newspaper, yesterday. I was interviewed several weeks ago. While a good story, I am a bit disappointed in the focus. I was supposed to have been interviewed for a story about Hospice and I think the story came out a bit too focused on us. I hope the importance of Hospice really shines through:
A family's long, arduous journey
Published: Tuesday, November 29, 2011, 9:50 AM
MANNING — Scott Adams and his family have traveled a long and difficult path since 2005.
His oldest daughter, Rebekah, was born with cerebral palsy. When she was just three, she was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, an inoperable cancer in her face and neck. She spent a year in the hospital fighting for her life. And winning. Rebekah is cancer-free.
That, however, is just the beginning of the family’s journey.
In 2007, their home in Manning burned down. They rebuilt.
Then in September 2009, Scott’s wife, Frances, was diagnosed with a genetic form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Frances’ father, Charles Mickley, died of ALS in 1999, so Scott and Frances had a good idea of what lay ahead.
“Our motto,” after all that had already affected the family, “was ‘it’s just one more thing,’” Scott said. “After almost losing your child, it’s just one more thing.”
Genetic ALS debilitates the body quickly. After a diagnosis, Scott said, a person might have 7 to 11 months to live.
Within a year of diagnosis, Frances went on life support.
“She would have died in September 2010 without a ventilator,” Scott said. She wanted to see her daughters grow.
ALS affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing a loss of voluntary muscle movement and control. Bedridden, Frances had control of only her eyes. She was able to communicate her wishes through a device that allowed her to “type” with her eyes.
Scott had the help of many family members, including Frances’ younger cousin who came to live with the family and help care for the girls.
Scott had palliative care services to help with long-term care issues through the couple’s insurance company. He was able to continue his work as an adoption attorney from home.
In June of 2011, Frances decided to discontinue life support. With her death imminent, Scott decided to employ the services of Hospice and Palliative Care of Washington County.
Hospice, an independent nonprofit, started in Hillsboro in 1982 as an all-volunteer organization.
Scott said he asked himself, “Is there anything more we can do to prepare the girls?”
“There were no resources for a child who is losing a parent,” he said.
Hospice care provides a wide variety of services, both for the patients and for the patient’s family. Nurses help with pain management and a range of other medical necessities of a dying person.
Hospice counselors came to the house every day or every other day, and worked with Sarah and Rebekah through play therapy on “how to preserve the memories of mommy,” Scott said. Rainbows are now reminders to the girls of their mother.
There are also counselors who work with family members.
“Anyone who was a care provider or was important to Frances,” Scott said, “could talk with Hospice counselors.”
“They gave us control over her life and her death,” Scott said. “They were supportive of her decisions on how she wanted to end her life.”
Frances died in July. After her death, Hospice counselors continued visits with the girls. After a few months, the family transitioned to long-term grief care, with Hospice counselors pre-screening counselors outside of Hospice for the family.
“We’re doing really well,” Scott said. “Better than could ever be expected. There’s loneliness, the feeling of loss. But we were prepared for those times,” he said.
Kathy Fuller is a news reporter for the Hillsboro Argus. She can be reached at kfuller@hillsboroargus.com.
Ok, maybe this isn't deep, emotional or an earth-shaking announcement (which apparently based on the lack of comments and surprisingly neither was my Thanksgiving Day post) but it is on my mind nonetheless.
Or is that 4? Or 6?
I received this in a private message today. It touched me so much that I asked for permission to share it here:
